Obituary

William "Bill" Hayward Clower

November 15, 1929 - May 2, 2023

Mr. William “Bill” Hayward Clower, a resident of Bogalusa, LA, passed away on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, in Covington, LA at the age of 93.  Bill was a special person who had many friends, was smart, generous, energetic, and was one of those people that you really wanted to know.  He had a good life and is surely resting in peace.  We will all miss him greatly.

Bill was born on November 15, 1929, to William Israel Clower and Annie Belle Mercer Clower in Ashford, AL.  William’s family called him Hayward, the common option for most southern families.  He also had numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins in the farm community where he grew up.

Bill matriculated through the Ashford School System and graduated in May of 1941.   He then went to work for the Houston County Highway Department, where he worked until he joined the United States Army.  Following his tour of duty, which included a deployment to Germany, Bill joined his family in New Boston, TX.

After considering his career options, he chose to attend East Texas State Teachers College in Commerce, TX.  College was a new adventure for Bill, it opened a whole new world of opportunities leading to his job with General Motors at their parts warehouse in Fort Worth, TX.  He was soon promoted to supervisor and also served on the Board of Governors for their Savings and Loan Company.

Bill, a handsome man with a career and bright future, was also a bachelor.  His family had given up on the possibility of marriage until he met and married, Sybil on July 6, 1976, at the Candlelight Wedding Chapel in Los Vegas, Nevada.  They seemed to be a perfect match, a marriage that lasted 31 years.  Sybil experienced a bad accident that resulted in them moving to Louisiana and residing with her son, Preston and his wife Diane, until Sybil’s death on August 1, 2007.  Bill continued residing with them until time of his death.

Bill is survived by his stepson, Preston Taylor and his wife, Diane of Bogalusa, LA; and his sister and brother-in-law, Annie Ruth Clower and James Estel Robertson of Searcy, AR.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Sybil; his parents, William and Annie Belle Clower; and his older brother, Morris Gene Clower.

Graveside services will be held in the Garden of Peace in Ponemah Cemetery on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at 3:00 P.M. with Rev. Larry Lassley officiating the service.